Principality of Valona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Principality of Valona and Kanina
Principata e Vlorës
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| 1346–1417 | |||||||||
| Status | Principality, vassal of the Serbian Empire (1346–1355), independent (1355–1417) | ||||||||
| Capital | Valona (Vlorë, Albania) | ||||||||
| Common languages | Albanian, Bulgarian, Greek, Serbian | ||||||||
| Religion | Eastern Orthodoxy Roman Catholicism | ||||||||
| Government | Principality | ||||||||
| Despot, later simply Lord | |||||||||
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• 1346–1363
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John Komnenos Asen | ||||||||
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• 1363–1372
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Alexander Komnenos Asen | ||||||||
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• 1372–1385
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Balša II | ||||||||
| Historical era | Medieval | ||||||||
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• Serbian conquest
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1346 | ||||||||
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• De facto independence
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1355 | ||||||||
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• Ottoman conquest
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1417 | ||||||||
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The Principality of Valona and Kanina was a small state in medieval Albania. It existed from 1346 to 1417. This principality included areas like modern Vlorë, Fier, and Berat.
At first, it was a part of the Serbian Empire. But after 1355, it became an independent state. It was influenced by the powerful trading city of Venice. The principality remained independent until the Ottoman Turks conquered it in 1417.
Contents
How Did the Principality of Valona Begin?
The city of Valona was very important because of its location on the coast. In the 13th century, the Byzantines and Italian powers often fought over it. The Byzantines finally took control around 1290. Valona became one of their main strongholds in the Balkans.
Byzantine rule lasted until the 1340s. During this time, the Serbian ruler Stefan Dušan took advantage of a civil war in the Byzantine Empire. He conquered Albania. Valona fell to him in late 1345 or early 1346.
Who Was John Komnenos Asen?
Dušan put his brother-in-law, John Komnenos Asen, in charge of Valona. John was the brother of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander. Valona was his capital, and Kanina and Berat were his main fortresses. Some historians believe Dušan had already captured Valona and Kanina in 1337.
John was given the special title of Despot by Dušan. He worked to strengthen his rule by presenting himself as a successor to the rulers of Epirus. He married Anna Palaiologina, who was the widow of a Despot. He also used the name "Komnenos" and signed documents in Greek, like the Byzantine rulers.
Valona Becomes Independent
After Dušan died in 1355, John became an independent ruler. He kept good relationships with Venice, even becoming a citizen there. He also had ties with Simeon Uroš, who ruled Epirus to the south. Under John's rule, Valona became rich through trade with Venice and the Republic of Ragusa (modern Dubrovnik).
What Happened After John's Rule?
John died in 1363 from the plague. His son, Alexander, likely took over and ruled until about 1368. Alexander continued his father's policies, keeping strong connections with Ragusa.
In 1372, John's daughter married Balša II from the Serbian Balšić noble family. Balša received Valona, Kanina, Berat, and Himara as part of her dowry. A dowry was property or money brought by a bride to her husband. Many citizens of Valona fled to Saseno and sought protection from Venice.
Balša II and the Ottoman Threat
Balša continued to expand his territory. He inherited Zeta in 1378. He also conquered Dyrrhachium from Karl Topia. After this, he called himself "Duke of Albania."
However, Topia asked the Ottomans for help. Balša was killed in the Battle of Savra near Berat in 1385. His widow, Komnina, regained control of her family's land. She ruled it with her daughter, Ruđina. But Berat had already fallen to another family, the Muzaka. Their rule was then limited to the area around Valona, including Kanina, Himara, and Pyrgos.
The principality now faced a growing threat from the Ottomans. In 1386, Balša's widow offered to give Valona to Venice for help. But Venice refused because Valona alone was hard to defend. After the Ottomans won the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, the situation became even more dangerous.
The End of the Principality
In 1393, another offer to Venice was rejected. Venice did not want to upset the Ottomans. Two years later, a more complete offer was made. The widow offered to hand over the entire principality. In return, she asked for a lifelong payment for her family.
Negotiations stopped when the widow died in 1396. Her daughter, Ruđina, took over. Ruđina had married Mrkša Žarković in 1391. Italian sources called the principality the Kingdom of Serbia during Mrkša's time.
Facing the Ottoman expansion, both Balša's widow and Mrkša repeatedly offered their principality to Venice. But Venice kept refusing or delaying. After Mrkša died in 1415, Ruđina briefly ruled. However, the Ottomans finally took the city in 1417.
Venice tried to get the territory back for Ruđina, who was a Venetian citizen. They even offered to buy it. But nothing worked. The region stayed under Ottoman rule for a long time. It was only after the First Balkan War and the creation of an independent Albanian state that it became free again.
Rulers of Valona
Here are the main rulers of the Principality of Valona:
- John Komnenos Asen (1346–1363), known as Despot
- Alexander Komnenos Asen (1363–1372), Lord of Valona and Kanina
- Balša II Balšić (1372–1385), Lord of Kanina and Valona, later Duke of Albania
- Komnina Balšić (1385–1396), ruled with her daughter
- Mrkša Žarković (1396–1414), called "lord of Valona" or "King of Serbia"
- Ruđina Balšić (1414–1417)
See also
In Spanish: Principado de Valona para niños
